Xbox Games We Love and Hate 2002 Special @ Gaming Target

Written by Matt Swider on February 14, 2003

Special: The best of the best and worst of the worst for the big black box this year.

Adventure Game Award

Winner: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
This Tom Clancy title turned out to be the stealth experience that shouldn't sneak past anyone with an Xbox.

The Runner-Up: Shenmue II

Action Game Award

Winner: MechAssault
Microsoft marched online for a Mech battle that sounds good whether or not you have any interest in mech games at all.

The Runner-Up: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Platform Game Award

Winner: Jet Set Radio Future
Dreamcast didn't Sell, so Sega Shaded its Cel-Shading experience onto the Xbox with more unique music and gameplay.

The Runner-Up: Blinx: Time Sweeper

First-Person Shooter Award

Winner: Unreal Championship
Unreal Tournament marked its territory online with the PC and now Xbox owners focus their sites on a Live Champsionship.

The Runner-Up: Timeplitters 2

Role-Playing Game Award

Winner: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
There has been very little competition for Morrowoind, however Bethesda Soft would be a tough RPG to match regardless.

The Runner-Up: Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

Sports Award

Winner: NFL 2K3
Sega Sports and its football franchise didn't fumble the chance to play online and rival the likes of Madden on Xbox this year.

The Runner-Up: World Series Baseball

Extreme Sports Award

Winner: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk remains extreme 'to the max' in his fourth skate session with more great music, moves, and multiplayer fun.

The Runner-Up: Aggressive Inline

Racing Award

Winner: RalliSport Challenge
Digital Illusions revved up their racer for release onto the Xbox where it rivals any rally game on this system any almost every other.

The Runner-Up: Sega GT 2002

Fighting Award

Winner: Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Midway has fought its way back to the top by creating a Deadly Alliance that remains undefeated on each current platform.

Visuals GOTY

Winner: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
This Tom Clancy title turned out to be the stealth experience that shouldn't sneak past anyone with an Xbox.

The Runner-Up: Jet Set Radio Future

Sound Effects GOTY

Winner: MechAssault
Microsoft marched online for a Mech battle that sounds good whether or not you have any interest in mech games at all.

The Runner-Up: Medal of Honor: Frontline

Music GOTY

Winner: Jet Set Radio Future
Dreamcast didn't Sell, so Sega Shaded its Cel-Shading experience onto the Xbox with more unique music and gameplay.

The Runner-Up: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Storyline GOTY

Winner: Shenmue II
Sega put more into Shenmue II than: "Do you remember the day?" by expanding the plotline as well as the series now set on Xbox.

The Runner-Up: Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

Online GOTY

Winner: MechAssault
Microsoft marched online for a Mech battle that sounds good whether or not you have any interest in mech games at all.

The Runner-Up: Unreal Championship

Surprise GOTY

Winner: Deathrow
Ubi Soft kept Deathrow locked away from us, however it knocked us off our feet when we fried up this inmate on Xbox.

The Runner-Up: MechAssault

Disappointing GOTY

Winner: Terminator: Dawn of Fate
As Arnold would say, this game is the ultimate 'party pooper.' Let's hope that T3 won't be a similar letdown in theatres.

The Runner-Up: Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller

Worst GOTY

Winner: Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon
Bruce Lee is still a legend to many, and yet his legacy doesn't live on when games like Quest of the Dragon feel marred beyond play.

The Runner-Up: Sneakers

BEST GOTY

Winner: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
This Tom Clancy title turned out to be the stealth experience that shouldn't sneak past anyone with an Xbox.

The Runner-Up: Jet Set Radio Future

Continue with the Games to Love and Hate
GameCube ╖ PS2 ╖ Xbox ╖ GBA